In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil? 1. Fern 2. Lichen 3. Moss 4. Mushroom Select the correct answer using the code given below.

The correct answer is Option 3 (2 and 3) because Lichens and Mosses are pioneer species in primary ecological succession.

• Lichens (2): These are symbiotic associations between algae and fungi. They secrete organic acids that weather rocks, breaking them down into smaller particles, allowing them to survive on bare rocky surfaces without soil.
• Mosses (3): As bryophytes, mosses lack true roots and instead use rhizoids for attachment. They can grow on damp rocks or tree bark, requiring very little substrate, and often follow lichens in the succession process.
• Ferns (1): These are vascular plants that generally require well-developed soil to anchor their root systems and absorb nutrients.
• Mushrooms (4): Being saprophytic fungi, they require organic matter (like decaying wood or humus-rich soil) to thrive; they cannot survive on a bare, inorganic surface like a rock.

Thus, only Lichens and Mosses possess the physiological adaptations to colonize and survive on surfaces devoid of soil.